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Four Sentenced in Tulsa Police Corruption Case (Dec 06, 2011)
TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Four law enforcement officers convicted in a widespread police corruption probe were sentenced Tuesday in federal court.

Former Tulsa police officer Jeff Henderson has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for his part in a corruption scandal after an investigation uncovered evidence of illegal searches, stolen money and drugs, and lying under oath.

Henderson was the first of four officers to be sentenced in the case Tuesday.

He was convicted in August on eight counts, including perjury and twice violating the civil rights of citizens during an illegal search. A jury acquitted him on the 45 other charges.

He showed no emotion as U.S. District Judge Bruce Black pronounced the sentence.

Henderson will receive credit for time he's already served, putting him behind bars for about another 20 months.

Another former Tulsa police officer convicted of corruption has been sentenced to four months in prison after cooperating with federal authorities in the investigation.

John K. Gray pleaded guilty in June 2010 to theft of more than $1,000 in government money during a federal drug sting.

Black noted Tuesday that prosecutors would not have been able to bring their case against a total of 11 officers were it not for Gray's help, but said he still deserved prison time.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys had requested that he be ordered to serve probation.

Former Tulsa police Cpl. Harold R. Wells drew the harshest sentence of the three, with Black saying he would have given Wells more than the 10 years Wells received were he not 60 years old and suffering from health problems.

Black told Wells that he distinguished himself as a police officer but that he'd "dishonored" his career by stealing money during an FBI sting and conspiring to sell methamphetamine.

Former Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Brandon McFadden was the last of four officers to be sentenced.

McFadden and a police officer who cooperated with prosecutors each were given lesser sentences, as opposed to two Tulsa officers who didn't help prosecutors.

McFadden pleaded guilty to a drug conspiracy charge, which ordinarily carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison.



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